https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H4333 5-23-16 On Monday, a joint conference committee of the Massachusetts legislature negotiated and reached a final deal on a new public records reform bill for the first time in 40 years. CHANGES TO THE PUBLIC RECORDS LAW If signed by Governor Baker, the new law, (Final BillH4333) , would allow judges to award legal costs and attorney […]
Methuen State Representative Diana DiZoglio and Cambridge Doctor Bharani Padmanabhan were both bestowed one of the highest honors by The Valley Patriot newspaper last month, when they were each given the newspaper’s First Amendment Award. Each year, The Valley Patriot’s 1st Amendment award is given to two individuals who show with their actions that […]
The Valley Patriot newspaper has announced the nominees for the 2016 Valley Patriot BASH Awards. Winners will be announced at the Valley Patriot’s 12th Anniversary BASH ceremony on March 25th at the Firefighter’s Relief In, 1 Market St in Lawrence at 7PM. (Get Tickets HERE) OFFICER TOM DUGGAN SR. LAW ENFORCEMENT AWARD On March 16, 1990, Lawrence Police Officer […]
By: Oscar Camargo – Jan. 2015 Since announcing my candidacy, people from the 18th Essex (Andover, Boxford, North Andover, and Tewksbury) have been supportive of my decision. I’m not surprised, given that State Representative Jim Lyons’ three terms have been unaccomplished. Rep. Lyons has accrued one of the lowest committee attendance records in the State […]
By: Maria Fiato. Christine Ryan, and Tom Duggan Nov. 23, 2015 MASSACHUSETTS – After nearly five years of trying to get the Massachusetts legislature to reform the state’s impotent public records law, Valley Patriot publisher Tom Duggan says that they have made a good first step towards holding public officials accountable for not turning over […]
By: Oscar Camargo – Sept., 2015 The opiate crisis in the Valley has had a chilling effect on the whole community. The town of Andover alone has laid seven of its citizens to rest – several of them children. Elected leaders, school officials, and families seem paralyzed by a sense of uncertainty. For me, this […]
By: Bharani Padmanabhan – July 3, 2015 Valley Patriot readers may be familiar with the 17 month long ordeal suffered by young Justina Pelletier at the hands of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the huge effort it took from 100,000 ordinary people from across this great land who came together to […]
Massachusetts Legislators, members of the media and 1st amendment advocates testified last month before a joint House and Senate committee on Beacon Hill, asking legislators to add penalties to the state’s fake public records law. The law, MGL Ch. 66, states that the keeper of records in any municipality or public agency must turn over public […]
By: Tom Duggan – April, 2015 Embattled Salisbury Town Manager Neil Harrington has been ordered by Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s office (right)to turn over public documents he has been concealing from the taxpayers for months. Harrington was requested by Salisbury residents Joyce and Gracemarie Tomaselli, to turn over a certified copy of the vote […]
By: John Macdonald – April, 2015 Every so often I like to sit back and observe local elected officials. I often rate them for their real leadership ability, political courage (if any) and potential for higher office. I’ve come to the realization that we have some real political stars in our midst. Some of these […]
April, 2015 Defeated State Representative Dave Torrisi squeaked out a 65 vote win for school committee in town elections last month, securing him a three year term on the school committee. Torrisi was appointed to fill the seat of Laurie Burzlaff, who resigned during her term last year to take a job in the town […]
2015 VALLEY PATRIOT AWARD WINNERS From the Valley Patriots 11th Anniversary BASH 3-20-15 State Auditor Suzanne Bump welcomed the crowd as the keynote speaker at The Valley Patriot newspaper’s 11th Anniversary BASH last Friday, to a more than sold out crowd at the Lawrence Firefighters Relief’s In. The annual BASH is held each year to thank the […]
The Valley Patriot newspaper has unveiled the nominees for the 2015 Valley Patriot Awards. Each Year the Valley Patriot gives awards at the annual BASH to members of the community and members of The Valley Patriot family. The winners will be announced on March 20th at the Firefighter’s Relief In (Get Tickets HERE) VALLEY PATRIOT […]
By, Forest Rain – December, 2104 There is a new trend in Europe. Parliaments in various European countries are holding “symbolic votes” to “recognize the State of Palestine.” These votes are symbolic in that they don’t have the power to create a Palestinian State. There is no state called “Palestine”, and historically there is […]
By: Tom Duggan – November, 2014 According to Town Clerk Joyce Bradshaw, 10,607 voters participated in the November election in North Andover. GOVERNOR – BAKER OVER COAKLEY Republican Charlie Baker won North Andover by 3,098 votes on Election Day with 63.05% of the vote (6,643 votes) to Democrat Martha Coakley’s 33.65% (3,545 votes). Baker won statewide. […]